The telecommunications sector is facing a labour shortage and a technical skills gap. The situation can only worsen over time as it is estimated that over 60% of the telecoms engineering work force in the UK are past the age of 50. Apart from the inevitable shrinkage in the workforce, remaining staff may not have kept up to date with the radical technological changes that have affected the industry in this century.

These challenges are exacerbated by the pressure to expand the coverage and capabilities of fibre broadband access due to customer expectations, increasing competition, and government targets.

The solution comes in two parts: re-skilling the existing workforce and recruiting and training young people.

Apprenticeships provide a structured, all-encompassing method of inducting new staff. Governments in the EU and UK actively encourage apprenticeships with financial inducements and other support especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The UK’s Telecoms Field Operative apprenticeship scheme is designed for those who will build and maintain fixed line broadband access networks. PTT has developed a range of online courses that cover the knowledge objectives of that apprenticeship standard. This unique resource provides training delivery flexibility and reduced costs that benefit employers and training providers while ensuring teaching is of a consistent high quality.

The latest PTT online course “Working in access networks” joins those PTT courses already providing targeted, relevant training for field operatives.